I got to see Emily Wells again last night, this time as the final act of three in a benefit performance at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane, WA. Major thanks to my friend, Rachel, who brought me out.

The first act was Old Bear Mountain. Not something I'd normally listen to, but they did well, and wow on the keyboard player/occasional vocalist. Way too gorgeous. We were front and center, so I ended up staring too much with her catching me.

Then it was Hey Marseilles, who Rachel was excited to see after seeing them at Sasquatch. We actually caught their sound check, too. The venue was pretty casual and unconcerned about everything. We probably could have walked right in without paying. They were good, but again, not something I'd normally listen to. I did buy their CD, though, so I'll see if they grow on me more.

Emily rocked her set. Even though it's a theater where everyone should be sitting, people were up and dancing at the front through the whole evening. Emily, being the final act, brought even more people forward. A little surprising since neither Hey Marseilles nor Emily Wells have the most dance-friendly music. I think the fact that it was a benefit and so many of the people knew each other loosened everyone up. Not like any other concert I'd been to.

Anyway, even being right at the front, the acoustics were great, sounded better than her show at the Doug Fir Lounge in Portland.

I got to say hi and get my picture with her again after the show. She asked if I was from Portland after I said I'd seen her at Doug Fir. She lives in Portland, apparently. I told her no, that so far I'd had to travel to see her, and she was touched. Ha ha. I told her I was from the Tri-Cities, and if she ever played there, I would totally street team for her. She said that was good to know. Oh, and she even asked my name at one point. So sweet. I still ended our chat a little awkwardly, since I didn't know how to end it, so at least the world righted itself.

You can see the girl in the background in the top pic was working the merch table in the second pic. She was really nice, and I heard her confirm to someone else that it IS a young Emily on the cover of her most recent album, Mama. I was guessing it was, but now I know.

I wish I had taken pictures of the gorgeous girl from Old Bear Mountain. We even saw her again today. She was performing by the fountain at the park where Pig Out in the Park was happening. I tried to take a couple of pictures, but there was stuff on the lens, and I didn't get close enough, anyway, since I didn't want to creep her out. My friend, Rachel, admitted that she'd been staring at the girl during the concert, too, and I think she recognized us both at the park. We're scary stalkers.

Here's a first. I'm posting from the Rush concert. Intermission. The first half, except for Far Cry and an instrumental with drum solo ("Leave That Thing Alone, I think?") was entirely from their 1982-1990 work, with four songs from Power Windows alone, including the little-played Middletown Dreams and Grand Designs. Very topical lyrical content for the politicoeconomic times ni think that was their plan.

Awesome time so far!

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"The Universe is the game of the self, which plays hide and seek forever and ever" - Alan Watts